The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) announces fee changes for 2024, due to the inflation that has been seen in recent years, reported 51 Telemundo.
The forms that will now cost more are the request for employment authorization and the application to change nonimmigrant status, among others.
According to a USCIS announcement in a press release, the USCIS Stabilization Act established current premium processing fees and the authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust premium processing fees every two years.
Hence, starting in 2024, the fee for Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing, which is essentially a request for an additional amount to be paid to expedite certain immigration procedures, will increase.
For the past three years, the immigration agency has not altered these fees, but DHS has decided to increase the Premium processing fees charged by USCIS for all eligible forms and categories, taking into account the rise in inflation from June 2021 to June 2023.
This adjustment will reflect an increase in premium processing fees from $1,500 to $1,685, from $1,750 to $1,965, and from $2,500 to $2,805.
Supposedly, the income generated by the increase in the cost of procedures would help provide better service and speed up delayed applications.
The fee adjustments will go into effect on February 26, meaning that if the agency receives a Form I-907 postmarked on or after that date with the incorrect fee or previously stated amount, they will deny the petition.
Taken from 51 Telemundo, Cuba in Miami The list below shows the change in rates:
Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Previous rate:
- $1,500 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
- $2,500 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2))
New rate:
- $1,685 (H-2B or R-1 nonimmigrant status)
- $2,805 (All other available Form I-129 classifications (E-1, E-2, E-3, H-1B, H-3, L-1A, L-1B, LZ, O-1, O-2, P -1, P-1S, P-2, P-2S, P-3, P-3S, Q-1, TN-1, and TN-2))
Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker
Previous rate:
- $2,500 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13, and E21 (NIW))
New rate:
- $2,805 (Employment-based (EB) classifications E11, E12, E21 (non-NIW), E31, E32, EW3, E13, and E21 (NIW))
Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status
Previous rate:
- $1,750 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4 , O-3, P-4 and R-2)
New rate:
- $1,965 (Form I-539 classifications F-1, F-2, M-1, M-2, J-1, J-2, E-1, E-2, E-3, L-2, H-4 , O-3, P-4 and R-2)
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Previous rate:
- $1,500 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C)
New rate:
- $1,685 (Certain F-1 students with categories C03A, C03B, C03C)
